We are clearly the best, but how do we stop the enemies of our national team?

We are clearly the best, but how do we stop the enemies of our national team?

Published: 18.06.2016.

I am extremely pleased with our team’s performance against the Czech Republic. At the same time, I am as miserable as a child that had its toy taken away.

Yes, we didn’t win and that is hard to swallow. We can deal with the final score, but what we witnessed during the match was horrible. The finish as it played out was the fault of those who threw flares and firecrackers onto the field, passing themselves off as football fans. They robbed us of our victory.

The Croatian national team never settles for a 1-0 or 2-0 lead. Our players always strive to outplay the opponent and get a bigger lead, so our team’s performance in this tournament has been a true attraction.

The Czechs were no match for us. The team that kept up with the Spaniards until the very end of the match would have been lucky to have gotten away with a decent defeat today. But the match ended in a draw, which the Czechs hadn’t deserved. I am very, very pleased with Croatia’s performance against the Czech Republic. But at the same time I am as miserable as a child that had its toy taken away.

Yes, we didn’t win and that’s hard to swallow. The final score is not a problem, but what we witnessed during the match does absolutely nothing for us. Those who threw flares and firecrackers onto the field passing themselves off as fans are to blame. They are not fans, they are a malady. Because of what they did our team lost its rhythm and focus, and unfortunately the match ended the way it did. I don’t want to waste any more words on the behavior of those individuals. I am only going to comment on the match.

I noticed our dominance straight away and knew that the biggest challenge would be to score the first goal. Everything else would later fall into place. And that’s exactly what happened.

There wasn’t a weak link in our team, our chain was strong; it was wrapped around so tight around the neck of the Czech team that their resistance was bound to be broken. And the one who broke it was the only player who could do it, so that this goal would become a well-deserved award for everything he had done in the Euro tournament. Our Ivan Perisic literally flew through the field! He outran, he dribbled, he shot, he assisted, he stole the ball… He did it all.

On top of that, the Croatian national team never settles for a 1-0 or 2-0 lead. Our players strive to outplay the opponent and get a bigger lead, so our team’s performance in this tournament has been a true attraction.

Our ball slid across the field, our passes were accurate, our possession of the ball threatening. There is nothing we should be dissatisfied with. Our feistiness is fanatical, but it is the technical superiority that gives us confidence in trying to reach the very top.

But why is all this happening to us? Why are these enemies going after our national team and threatening it with elimination? Why haven’t we, as a society, rid ourselves of this? Why do we have to put up with the savagery of those individuals?

But the football game is what brings us joy. It is time for the entire Europe to realize that Croatia is coming. A Croatia never stronger and never better. Everyone will perceive us differently from now on. The Turks were tough opponents, but we always play our standard game in which we manifest our power. Nobody else has played two matches this beautifully, and what else is there to say but – we’re coming for the Spaniards.

Still, I cannot hide my grief, my friends. How can we stop the enemies of our national team?